Method of binding books



July 21, 1953 l.. E. PITNER 2,645,795

METHOD 0F BINDING Books a@ 54 69 es 4o "'Z/ Lava E. pn-NA-.e

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METHOD OF BINDING BOOKS Filed April s, 1947 s sheets-sheet 2 Lava E'. D17-,vee

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METHOD oF BINDING Books 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April s. 1947 NIN-ran. Love E'. Plv-N52 @Q., M MJ ATTolNlYS July 21, 1953 E, Pn-NER 2,645,795

' METHOD 0F BINDING Booxs A'r'rannlvi July 21, 1953 1.. E. PrrNER 2,645,795

METHOD oF BINDING lBOOKS Filed April 3, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IWBNTQE L ova E. Plz-Ng@ MMM@ Patented July 21, 1953 UNITEo STATES PATENTl OFFICE METHOD oF BINDING BooKs Lloyd E. Pitner, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April s', 1947, serial No. 739,165

facture of books of the type commonly produced in great quantities for young children.- While the invention is not limited to the production of books for this purpose, reference to these books will indicate a type of book with which the invention is particularly concerned.

It is a further and very important object of the invention to provide a novel and improved book construction resulting from the means and method of this invention and devised to provide unusual iiexibility between the covers :and the binding and at the same time unusual strength in the hinge. y f

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel and improved means for coloring the finished edges of books made in accordance with f" the invention.

Many other objects of the invention can be more particularly explained in connection with the following disclosure thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View diagrammatically illustrating in a series of perspective pictures the preferred sequence of operations involved in my improved book manufacturing method.

FigfZ is a view inv plan of a blankcomprising stock for a series of front and back covers and binding strips for use in the practice of my-invention. Y a

Fig. 3 is an venlarged fragmentary detail-view in perspective showing a cornery of the blank illustrated in Fig. 2 with its surface plies rolled back to illustrate` the multiple ply construction.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective yshowing strips of book covers and backs separated from the blank of Fig. 2. a

Fig. 5 is a plan view diagrammaticallyillustrating the cutting of binding strips from the cover and back strips shown in Fig. 4, and the re-connection of such binding strips to therespective covers by the application of gummed tape thereto.

Fig. 6 is a detail View on an enlarged' scale taken in section on the line 66of Fig. 5'.

Fig. 6c is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a somewhat modiiied structure and procedure.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in perspective showiing binding and cover strips in process of being assembled to contents strips or sections.

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective showing the binding strips stapled to the contents.

the application of tape to successive assemblies of the type shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a further enlarged view in perspective showing a book 'cut from one of the bound and taped strips resulting from the procedure illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. llis a fragmentary detail view in end elevation of a kportion of the book shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. lla'is a view in transverse section through a duplex strip of books prior to the separation thereof into component books.

Fig. 12 is a plane view of an actual piece of apparatus .for performing the process step diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinal section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 isa plan view of the portion of the apparatus which carries out the process step diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9.

- Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in perspective of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 14;

Fig; 16 is a view in longitudinal section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 14.

-- Fig. 17 is a view in perspective of apparatus optionally used for coloring the edges of the books otherwise completed as shown inl'igs. 10

yand 11.

The large sheet 20 shown in Fig. 2 provides cover and binding stock for twenty-four books, the precise number being unimportant. The sheet 20 comprises a cardboard core 2l (Fig. 3) to which is laminated facing plies 22, 23 upon which is printed any desired pictures or text which is to appear on the covers of the finished book. In theparticular size of sheet illustrated, it is intended that the sheet be cut upon the lines indicated at 24, 25, 26, 2l, 28, 29 and 30 in Fig. 2 into eight strips each containing six front or back covers. The areas 3| of the first strip 32, the third strip 33, the fifth strip 34 land the seventh strip 35 all represent back covers. The

rareas 36 of the second, fourth, sixth and eighth strips 31,38, 39 and 40, respectively, all represent front covers. Each strip includes a portion ,Y not occupied by the front or back covers and this piles of strips such as those indicated at 32 and 31 at B in Fig. 1. A pair of the individual strips is shown in Fig. 4. While the six book covers displayed by the strips 32 and 31 may be identical, I have found it convenient to make six different books simultaneously by the process herein disclosed.

The strips 32 and 31, spaced from each other approximately four times the thickness of one strip, as shown at the right in Fig. 5, are now fed in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. and at C in Fig. 1 beneath the slitting knives 4l, 42 which separate from the strips 32, 31 the narrow binding strips 43, 44, these being guided into edge contact by the wedge-shaped guides 45, 46. Immediately a pair of gummed or glued tapes 41, 48 are applied across the face of each binding strip and the adjacent margin of the cover strip from which it was cut. Thus tape 41 fastens the binding strip 43 in spaced relation to the cover strip 32, while the tape 4B fastens the binding strip 44 in spaced relation to the cover strip 31.

It will, of course, be understood that the operation of separating the binding strip from the cover strip and applying the tape to re-connect -the parts in spaced relation could be carried on yseparately with regard to each of the cover strips or binding strips could be applied to each edge of a cover strip subsequently severed into two books after binding as disclosed below. However, it is a convenience to handle them in pairs vas shown, the matter of spacing being taken care of automatically by the engagement of the ymargins of the binding strips with each other.

As a result of this operation, we have a series of successive cover` strips 32, 31 and binding strips V43, 44 taped thereto, the tape being continuous and the strips being spaced at their ends as shown in Fig. 5. The lateral spacing between the taped cover strips and associated binding strips is best shown in Fig. 6.

Meantime, the contents 50 (Fig. '1) of a number of books corresponding to the number of covers (one or more) on each of the strips 32, 31 will have been printed on page strips comprising 'pages or signatures in any desired number. These pages or signatures for the purpose of this patent shall be considered as prefabricated. The contents will be inserted between a back cover strip 32, and a front cover strip 31 as shown in Fig. 7 and at D in Fig. 1. Thereupon the staples 5l, preferably at least two opposite each cover, will be applied by stapling head 5|0 (E in Fig. 1) to connect the binding strips 43, 44, of the respective cover strips 32, 31 to the intervening portions of the page strips, as shown in Fig. 8.

As an alternative to the procedure resulting in the structure of Fig. 6, I may, particularly when cloth tape is available, use, in lieu oi the two separate tapes 41 and 4B, a single wide tape 480, as shown in Fig. 6a. This tape 480 is somewhat more than equal to the combined width of tapes 41 and 48, since it also includes the Width of the compacted contents 503. The mounting strips 43 and 44, instead of being forced together, edge to edge, are held apart for a distance equal to the `thickness of the contents 500. The contents are preferably well compressed for the purpose and may be preliminarily stapled. With the gummed tape 480 applied to the two covers 32 and 31 and the two bindings strips 43 and 44 and the spaces intervening between the several covers and mounting strips, the contents are then positioned on edge on the tape 480 in registry with the space between vthe mounting strips 43 and 44. Thereupon one mounting strip and its associated cover is folded upon one side oi the contents and the other mounting strip and associated cover are folded on the other side of the contents 500, after which binding proceeds as above described, by stapling the mounting strips 43 and 44 through the pre-stapled contents 500. The difference between the iinished product of this process and the finished product of the process previously described will reside in the fact that the bound margins of the pages comprising the contents will be held in the bight of the wider tape 480, and the binding is stronger.

The assembled .strip of books, completed to the extent shown in Fig. 8, is now bound along the binding strip edge with either cloth or paper tape formed into channel-shaped tape 52 which covers the staples 5| and completes the hinge and binding and also acts as an ornamental trim. This operation is performed as digrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9 and at F in Fig. 1. The assembled strip books are fed beneath the roller 53. The tackiiied tape is supplied at 54, guided about pulleys 55 and 56 and channeled and applied to the hinge margins of successive book strips by the channelling folder 51, which will be described in more detail later. The springpressed guide 58 holds each successive book strip firmly into 'the tape channelling folder 51 to ensure the firm application of the tape to the book strip in a position to overlie both of the binding strips 43, 44 and to lap across the intervening spaces on to the back and front covers 32 and 31, respectively.

The rotary forming disk 59, and a similar disk operating below the book strip and not shown in Fig. 9, immediately press the moistened gummed tape into the gaps between the binding strips 43, 44 and the respective covers 32, 31, thereby not only drawing the tape 52 tightly into intimate contact with all of the surfaces embraced thereby, but also bonding it to the tapes 41, 48 as best shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. The rolls 60, 6I press the tape to the cover and binding strip and deliver the book strips from the tape channelling and applying apparatus.

All that remains is to trim the several individual books and thereby separate them from the strips in which they have been bound and finish as desired. The trimming is illustrated diagrammatically at 64 in sketch G of Fig. 1. The resulting book is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. It not only has a neatly finished appearance but has a lcombination of exceptional strength with exceptional flexibility of the cover hinge. The hinge is made by the gap between the binding portions 43 and 44 and the respective covers 32 and 31, such gap being at least twice the thickness of the cover stock and spanned by the tapes 41 and 48 originally applied to the inner faces of the covers across such gap and the finish tape 52 which spans the gap that has been forced by the forming disks 59 into the gap and bonded to the tapes 41 and 48 to provide for each cover a two-ply hinge, whereof both plies are at the level of the inner face of the cover. Fig. 11 shows in full and dotted lines various positions of the cover 31, in one of which it is open at almost from its closed position.

While the individual books are now mechani- .cally complete, it is desirable, for some purposes,

to enhance their appearance by coloring all of their trimmed margins. This step of the process is diagrammatically illustrated at H in Fig 1 and may preferably be performed by apparatus shown in Figs. 17 and 19 and hereinafter described in detail.

Instead of separating the binding strips from the inner or adjacent margins of two separate cover strips as heretofore described, I may alternatively separate the binding strips from the outer margins of a duplex or double width cover` strip, completing the taping and binding of a duplex book strip as shown in Fig. 11a and thereafter completing two separate and distinct strips of books by simply severing the duplex book strip on the line of Fig. 11a. It will, of course, be understood that all of the individual operations performed in the completion of the duplex book shown in Fig. 11a., prior to the division thereof into separate component books, will, or may, correspond precisely to the operations already described, except that they will be -performed on the outer margins of a double width cover strip instead of being performed on adjacent margins of two separate cover strips.

vI-Iaving described my improved method for manufacturing books, I shall now describe more specifically the preferred apparatus used in the practice of certain portions thereof. Fig. 12

and Fig. 13 show the apparatus which has been` diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 5. There is a Work table 65 to which the :Work is supplied from a feed table 66 and from which the partially completed work is delivered on to table 61. As the cover strips 3-2, 31 shown in Fig. 4 are delivered into the apparatus, they are separated by a low partition 68 which extends longitudinally of the feed table 66 and preferably corresponds to the combined width of the gaps later to be formed between the binding strips and the remaining cover strips. Lower feed rolls 69 barely project through the table and hence, in Fig. 12, appear to be smaller in diameter than the coacting upper feed roll 10. These feed rolls deliver the pair of strips to the rotary knives 4| and 42 already described. Immediately beyond these knives are the xed wedges 45, 46 which push the severed binding strips 43 and 44 against each other at an accurately predetermined spacing from the remaining cover strips 32 and 31. Immediately beyond this point are the feed rolls 12, 13, the latter also serving to apply the twin tapes 41, 48. These tapes communicate from supply rolls 19, one of which is shown in Fig. 13. In passing between the guide rolls 80 and 8|, the gummed undersurface of the tape contacts the moistening roll 82 which operates in a trough 83. While reference has been made to gummed tape, it will, of course, be understood that the tape may comprise ordinary paper or cloth ribbons without any gumming, in lwhich case liquid adhesive may be supplied from the trough 83. Since the only object is to produce a tacky surface for adhesion of the tape to the rest of the work, the apparatus will be referred to as a tackifying apparatus, regardless of whether it moistens gum already present on the tape or whether is applies liquid adhesive to a previously ungummed tape. Both types of device are well known to the art.

The tackied tape passes about the guide rollr 8l, over an adjustable arm that removes surplus glue and smooths out tacky surface, then around guide roll 84, then guide roll 85 and guide roll 86 to the feed rolls 13. The guide roll 85 is adjustable upon the drier frame 81 so that,

according to moisture conditions, the gummed surface of each tape may have exactly the desired degree of tackiness before contacting the work. The spring-pressed drag 810 holds the supply roll 19 against overrun and causes the tape to be fed out under uniform tension.

After the tackied tape is applied to the work, the work passes between additional pressure rolls at 88 and 89 and a further set of pressure rolls 90, 9|, 92 and 93. In approaching this further set of pressure rolls, the work passes beneath a floating block 94 having downwardly exposed convolutions or transverse teeth 95 which rest on the work and serve to smooth the tape as it passes therebeneath. A

The work table is provided throughout its length with guides 96, 91, 98, 99 and |00, IUI for accurately positioning the work in the course of its travel. Between the guides 80, l 0|, I preferably place an automatic cut-off or use a smooth, hard panel such as a plate glass surface and have an operator who inspects the work, make a transverse cut through the tapes 41, 48, which are otherwise continuous as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, by the time the work is delivered by rolls |03, |04 on to the discharge table B1, the individual work pieces shown in Fig. 7 can be separated from con' secutive work pieces and are ready to be combined with the intervening contents 50, as shown in Fig. '7. f n

` Driving connections to the various rolls may be ieffected in any desired manner and are sufficiently illustrated in Fig. 13 to require no detailed description. n

Figs. 14 to 16 illustrate in more detail the ap paratus diagrammatically shown in Fig. 9.

The table |85 is continuous from one end of the apparatus to the other, but is notched out to receive the several rollers hereinafter to be described, and also the tape channelling former. However, in order to provide a maximum of support for the work as it enters the former, I preferably employ a sheet metal plate 059 which, having much less thickness than the table proper, can provide an extension of the table surface into the former as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 14 and 15.

In Fig. 14, generically designated by reference character |06, is the tape supplying and tackifying apparatus. Since this may correspond with that already described in connection with Fig. 13, it needs4 no specific description here. The tackiiied tape passes over the guide rolls 55 and 5E as already described in connection with Fig. 9, and

is engaged at its back by the channelling former 51 shown in detail in Fig. 15. Meantime assembled book strips of the type shown in Fig. 8 are being fed to the former by the feed rolls |91, |08. The free margins of the covers are engaged by a guide t8 which is subject to the lateral pressure of the springs HD, whereby the Work pieces are pushed into the tape channelling .former 51 to facilitate the firm application of the tape to successive Work pieces. 'Ihe work pieces are further held flat by a floating weight held by links ||2 (Fig. ifi) and preferably provided with rolls I3 which ride on the top cover Voi each successive work piece.

The function of the grooving disks 59 has already been described. Aiter these grooving disks operate on the work pieces, the work pieces are delivered out of the apparatus by the pressure and feed rolls B6 and 6|. l

If the books are tov be painted or colored on their trimmed margins, the operator stacks them in bundles H5 after they have been trimmed as in sketch G of Fig. 1. The container HB holds in its bottom a stain, dye, or ink or paint Hl in which operates the transfer roll i IS. Peripherally engaged with the transfer roll H8 is the applicator roll I I9, to the periphery of which is substantially tangent the table surface 120 which may comprise a cover for the color receptable l I6. The table 20 is preferably accurately adjustable as to height, as by means of the adjusting screws shown in Fig. i2. The ta le surface preferably curves slightly downwardly at i2! where the applicat r roll HS] is exposed.

While a variety of surfaces may be used on the applicator roll, I prefer to surface rolls H3 with soft felt or spongy rubber and H9 with a pile fabric or soft, short hair brush find that on roll H9 the closely packed pile or brush does a much better job of painting the margins of the book without as much danger that the pigment or dye will creep by capillarity between the pages. The opera to slnily taies the bundle of books as shown at H5 and passes each of the three trimmed surfaces in turn over the table i213 in contact with the rotating roll H9. is operated by the motor l23 through speed reducer 25 and belt E25 at a moderate surface speed which it not critical and may approximate 100 feet per minute, the object being merely to present a fresh pile or brush surface to the work without operating roll I i3 fast enough so that the dye or color will be thrown centrifugally there-5y from. The pile 0f the fabric or brush colors the work evenly without undue pressure or speed.

I claim:

1. A method of book manufacture which comprises prefabricating a blank having cover and binding strip portions for a multiple of books in side by side and end to end relationship integral strip form, advancing the strip in a continuous motion while severing binding strip portions from either side of the blank, spacing side binding strip portions from the cover strip portions and applying a tape to the binding and cover strip portions spanning the gap therebetween and holding said portions at fixed spacing, prefabricating contents, assembling the contents between a pair of cover and binding strips made as aforesaid, fastening the binding strips through the intervening contents and finally severing individual books from the strip.

A method of book manufacture which comprises prefabricating a blank having cover and binding strip portions in a strip providing a multiple of books in end to end relationship, severing binding strip portions from the blank, spacing them from the cover strip portions thereof and applying a tape to the binding and cover strip portions, spanning the gap therebetween and holding said portions at xed spacing, prefabricating contents in strip ferm for inclusion in the cover strip, assembling the contents between a pair of cover and binding strips made as aforesaid, fastening the binding strips through the intervening contents, and applying a channeled binding tape of continuous length for the multiple books, said tape being applied about the binding strips and to the opposite faces of the cover strips across the gap therebetween.

3. A method of book manufacture which comprises prefabricating a strip blank having cover and binding strip portions for a multiple of books arranged end to end, severing binding strip portions from the blank, spacing them from the cover strip portions thereof and applying a tape to the binding and cover strip portions, spanning The roll H9 the gap therebetween and holding said portions at Xed spacing, prefabricating contents, assembling the contents between a pair of cover and binding strips made as aforesaid, fastening the binding strips through the intervening contents, and applying a channeled binding tape about the binding strips and to the opposite faces of the cover strips across the gap therebetween, and finally severing individual books from the strip.

4. A book manufacturing method for a multiple of books comprising the spacing of a continuous length of covers and binding strips at a predetermined gap, applying tape to the inner faces of the covers and binding strips across said gap, assembling the tape, covers and binding strips with intervening multiple page strips, and stitching the assembled page strips through said binding strips, and the application of tape externally to a binding strip and cover across said gap, and the grooving of the last mentioned tape into said gap whereby to provide a two-ply hinge between the binding and coi-'cr strip at substantially the level of the tape first applied across said gap, and nally severing individual complete books from the continuous length of covers, binding strips and page strips.

A method of book manufacture which comprises forming a multiple of book covers and contents in an integral strip, tackifying a tape, eliannelling the and urging into the channel under lateral pressure a previously assembled uf i advai 'ig said strip and tape, and finally geve ng individual books from the strip.

A. method. of book manufacture which con prises assembling a strip of multiple book pages in a set of page sheets between book covers in integral strips, connecting through such page sheets binding strips spaced from the respective covers, channelling a strip of adhesive tape having a tacky surface, forcing the binding strips and nearby portions of said covers into the channel of such tape, and pressing such tape into adherent connection with the binding strips and said cover portions, and finally separating the multiple book strip into individual books.

'7. The process recited in claim 6 in further combination with the step prior to said final separation of forming intermediate portions of the channeled tape into the spaces between the binding strips and their respective covers in continuous grooving operation to provide a hinge.

8. A method of manufacturing a multiple of books comprising prefabrication of a double width cover strip, advancing the strip in a continuous process cutting binding strips from. opposite margins of the cover strip while advancing the strip, spacing the binding strips from the cover strip, applying tacky tapes to the cover strip and the rcspective binding strips, bridging the space therebetween, assembling the resulting cover and binding strips with double width contents and with a like duplex cover strip and similarly taped binding strips, binding the binding strips by extending fastening means through the binding means and through the contents and subsequently severing the duplex cover strips and contents substantially midway between the binding strips,

9. The method recited in claim 8 in further combination with the step of channelling a pair of additional tacky tapes and applying said additional tapes respectively about the bound margins of the binding strips and adjacent portions of the duplex cover strips prior to the severance of said cover strips and contents.

10. A method of book manufacture which comprises forming a multiple of book covers and contents in an integral strip wherein portions of a plies forming a double strip of book covers with e hinged binding strips, prefabricating dou-ble strips d of book contents, assembling the said contents between a pair of said covers and fastening the binding strips through the intervening contents, and finally severing separate books from the assembled strip.

12. A method Vof book manufacture which comprises prefabricating a cardboard core with facing plies forming a double strip of book covers with hinged binding strips extending along either side margin, prefabricating double strips of` book contents, assembling the said contents between a pair of said double strips of covers and fastening the binding strips through the intervening contents, moving the assembled double cover strips and contents progressively forward while applying a channeled binding tape to the outer side margins of the assembly and finally severing individual books from the assembled double strips.

13. A method of book manufacture which comprises assembling a multiple of book covers and contents in an integral duplex strip providing a 10 multiple of books in end to end relationship and with the side margins of the strip providing backbone material, securing the side margins in permanent assembly to provide bound backbone margins, severing the duplex strip into two strips along a line of severance medially between the said side margins rand finally severing individual books from the severed strips.

LLOYD E. PITNER.

References cited in the nie of this patent' `UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 290,303 Wright Dec. 18, 1883 1,219,589 Schaefer Mar. 20, 1917 1,220,556 Reisbach Mar. 27, 1917 1,365,334 Miles Jan. 11, 1921v 1,461,724 Cooper July 17, 1923 1,730,113 Birdsey Oct. 1,1929 1,763,494 Yinger June 10, 1930 1,828,997 Collins Oct. 27, 1931 1,854,666 Prifold Apr. 19, 1932 2,180,965 Palmer Nov. 21, 1939 2,232,134 Palmer Feb. 18, 1941 2,262,796 Cavalero Nov. 18, 1941 2,307,406 Howard Jan.` 5, 1943 j2,355,737 Krehbiel Aug. 15, 1944 2,372,617 Trew Mar. 27,` 1945 2,390,125 Schade Dec. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Nov. 6, 1935 

